Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts around 20-25 years, more or less depending on storm damage and usual wear and tear. Other roofing materials last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The extent and quality of care you give your roof can shorten or lengthen the time between roof replacements. If you are good about caring for your roof, you could end up only having to replace your roof on your home once in your lifetime, as long as you give it the maintenance it requires.
Roof replacement is very expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re much better off doing maintenance and small repairs as needed to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just can’t stand the thought of climbing a tall ladder – you can find a licensed, certified roofer in Downey to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it happens is the most affordable way to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care projects for your home’s roof:
Cut limbs that hang over your roof. Strong winds and rain storms can break limbs and even push over trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their branches onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs destroy all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed on top of your gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you need to do and help prevent rain flowing into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Downey.
Have regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of age such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing pro will let you know if there’s an issue that should be handled.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, making your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifespan. There are regular and plant-based options so you can feel safe about spraying these coatings on your home, where they will inevitably run off and be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as odors throughout your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll have to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these projects at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your home’s roof, and it will instantly freshen up the curb appeal. Downey Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Downey as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that have to be cleared. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it probably means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots attach to shingles and other materials and damage them if it isn’t gotten rid of quickly. Many homeowners choose to have a professional do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but as long as you tend to them quickly, no major issues should result. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Downey are more than willing to tackle these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in good shape.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt pieces attached to them. The texture can be knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain storms. These asphalt chunks help protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the part of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also need to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes leak, allowing mold and mildew into your home, plus pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in the gaps on the roof where it is impossible to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is required, replacing the flashing is also an easy task for roofers and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is typically the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will probably only need to install a new one one or two times. Of course, if you move frequently, you could end up replacing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the price of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or ask that the seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a house, give Downey Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Downey to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.